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Learn how Peoria Legion helps vets with VA

Posted 10/19/19

In this series of articles, we have reviewed the recently signed Legion Act, how the Legion Act affects potential American Legion members, and examples of the many veteran-centric programs that exist in the Peoria American Legion Post 62.

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Learn how Peoria Legion helps vets with VA

Posted

In this series of articles, we have reviewed the recently signed Legion Act, how the Legion Act affects potential American Legion members, and examples of the many veteran-centric programs that exist in the Peoria American Legion Post 62.

This final article, in the four-part series, identifies how the American Legion Post 62 can assist Peoria veterans in identifying what VA-related programs they may be qualified for and how to overcome the often complex connection between the veteran and the VA.

The VA traces its roots back as far as 1636 when the pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts and passed a law that stating disabled soldiers would be supported by the colony. Throughout the history of the United States that tradition of federal government assistance for veterans has continued to this day where the Department of Veterans Affairs is a department in the federal government on par with the Department of Defense and the Department of State.

You might ask the question: “Why is the Peoria American Legion Post 62 able to better assist all veterans in need and address questions about the VA?”

The primary answer to this question would be that Post 62 has a great service officer.

The American Legion sponsors the Post Service Officer and Department Service Officer programs in the American Legion around the world. PSO’s can provide information and links to important points of contact, disability benefits, pension benefits, support for surviving spouses (a special note that the recently signed Legion Act potentially has a direct impact on surviving spouses of veterans).

Peoria Post 62 is very fortunate to have Legionnaire Ed Hill serving as our Post Service Officer. Mr. Hill is highly trained in the responsibilities of the service officer and has completed the following courses: a week-long Peer Support Certification Training, the PTSD course, the Traumatic Brain Injury course, and the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training workshop. Mr. Hill also attends service officer refresher courses twice a year at the annual Arizona Department of the American Legion Convention and Conference. With his extensive training, it is Mr. Hill’s goal to assist any veteran and their families in times of need or in seeking the assistance they are entitled to across a wide spectrum of services from local veteran support agencies to the VA.

When Mr. Hill was asked what were the most important veteran support programs, he first stated the American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance program, which is an American Legion program that can provide financial assistance up to $1,500 to qualified veterans. The next most useful program that he works closely with is Rally Point Arizona, an Arizona program of veterans helping veterans and their families.

Additional programs Mr. Hill works with include the Salvation Army, furniture centers, sources of medical equipment (such as walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, crutches and motorized scooters), and medical supplies. He is a busy member of Post 62 and can be found at the post two days each week, Monday and Wednesday. This is a message directly for the reader from Legionnaire Ed Hill: “Feel free to walk in or call me, 623-248-5615 (my office at the Post) or 978-660-1004 (my cell).”

The above information highlights the type of veteran and family-oriented programs that are available through Peoria American Legion Post 62. These are programs that veterans qualify for, and to repeat, “to not make full use of them is like leaving resources on the table!”

And always remember that your Legionnaire brothers and sisters will work with you.

Peoria community American Legion Post #62, John J. Morris is found at 9847 W. Desert Cove Ave. Call 623-972-8372, all eligible veterans are welcome.

Editor’s note: Dr. Francis J. Sisti is the Peoria American Legion Post 62 historian and chairman of the publicity committee.